Great Expectations (Modern Family)
Encyclopedia
"Great Expectations" is the eighth episode of the ABC
series Modern Family
. It premiered on ABC
in the United States
on November 18, 2009. The episode was written by Joe Lawson and directed by Jason Winer
.
), one of their favorite musicians. However, this unexpected gift turns out to be a mistake, as Phil was neither a big fan of Spandau Ballet
nor was their song "True" - their song was Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
's "If You Leave".
Jay and Gloria are having all the grandkids (including Lily for the first time) over for a slumber party, a tradition he calls "Jay's Night." Haley feels like she is too old for family sleepovers and wants to go to a party with her boyfriend. Alex says they should enjoy spending time with their grandfather because they don't know how much longer he will be around, which both confuses and scares Luke into thinking that Jay is dying. Haley is unable to convince her parents to let her attend the party (which is only three blocks away from Jay's house) and ends up at his sleepover. She makes several attempts to sneak out of the house but is thwarted by Jay. Jay finds Dylan in the backyard and invites him in, saying he will allow him to take Haley to the party for a few hours. However Dylan quickly succumbs to the family fun "Jay's Night" and they don't go to the party.
Also, Cameron and Mitchell call their party-girl friend, Sal (Elizabeth Banks
), for a night on the town but the results of the night are decidedly mixed.
The show ends with everyone at Jay's house watching a movie, including a hungover Sal, Dylan eating Sloppy "Jay's" (really are just Sloppy Joes changed to Jay's name), and Jay asleep in a chair with Luke checking him for a pulse.
, father of co-creator Christopher Lloyd
who died 8 days before the airdate. At the end it featured an "In Memory" screen dedicating the episode to David's life and quoting the famous line from "Chuckles Bites the Dust
",which David wrote: "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants."
Edward Norton and Ty Burrell have previously starred together in The Incredible Hulk
and Leaves of Grass
of 5.4/9.
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
series Modern Family
Modern Family
Modern Family is an American television comedy series created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, which debuted on ABC on September 23, 2009. Lloyd and Levitan serve as showrunner and executive producers, under their Levitan-Lloyd Productions label...
. It premiered on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on November 18, 2009. The episode was written by Joe Lawson and directed by Jason Winer
Jason Winer
Jason Winer is an American director, producer, writer, actor and comedian. He is best known for being one of the directors on the award-winning series Modern Family on ABC.Winer was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland...
.
Plot
Claire has had a history of giving bad gifts while Phil has a history of giving her great gifts she really appreciates. So, in an attempt to make up for it, she decides to give Phil a surprising anniversary present, which is a private performance by Izzy LaFontaine (Edward NortonEdward Norton
Edward Harrison Norton is an American actor, screenwriter, film director and producer. In 1996, his supporting role in the courtroom drama Primal Fear garnered him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor...
), one of their favorite musicians. However, this unexpected gift turns out to be a mistake, as Phil was neither a big fan of Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
nor was their song "True" - their song was Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
's "If You Leave".
Jay and Gloria are having all the grandkids (including Lily for the first time) over for a slumber party, a tradition he calls "Jay's Night." Haley feels like she is too old for family sleepovers and wants to go to a party with her boyfriend. Alex says they should enjoy spending time with their grandfather because they don't know how much longer he will be around, which both confuses and scares Luke into thinking that Jay is dying. Haley is unable to convince her parents to let her attend the party (which is only three blocks away from Jay's house) and ends up at his sleepover. She makes several attempts to sneak out of the house but is thwarted by Jay. Jay finds Dylan in the backyard and invites him in, saying he will allow him to take Haley to the party for a few hours. However Dylan quickly succumbs to the family fun "Jay's Night" and they don't go to the party.
Also, Cameron and Mitchell call their party-girl friend, Sal (Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell , known professionally as Elizabeth Banks, is an American actress. Banks had her film debut in the low-budget independent film Surrender Dorothy...
), for a night on the town but the results of the night are decidedly mixed.
The show ends with everyone at Jay's house watching a movie, including a hungover Sal, Dylan eating Sloppy "Jay's" (really are just Sloppy Joes changed to Jay's name), and Jay asleep in a chair with Luke checking him for a pulse.
Production
The episode was written by Joe Lawson and directed by Jason Winer, his seventh time that season. The episode was dedicated to David LloydDavid Lloyd (writer)
David Lloyd was an American screenwriter and producer for television.He wrote for many popular and award-winning sitcoms, such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Taxi, Cheers, Frasier and Wings. Lloyd wrote the Emmy-winning "Chuckles Bites the Dust", an episode of the...
, father of co-creator Christopher Lloyd
Christopher Lloyd (screenwriter)
Christopher Lloyd is an American TV screenwriter and producer of Wings, Frasier, Out of Practice, Back to You, and Modern Family...
who died 8 days before the airdate. At the end it featured an "In Memory" screen dedicating the episode to David's life and quoting the famous line from "Chuckles Bites the Dust
Chuckles Bites the Dust
"Chuckles Bites the Dust" is an episode of the television situation comedy The Mary Tyler Moore Show which first aired October 25, 1975. The episode's plot centers on the fictictious WJM-TV staff's humorous reaction to the absurd death of Chuckles the Clown, an often-mentioned but seldom seen...
",which David wrote: "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants."
Edward Norton and Ty Burrell have previously starred together in The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk (film)
The Incredible Hulk is a 2008 superhero action film based on the Marvel Comics character the Hulk. It is directed by Louis Leterrier and stars Edward Norton as Dr. Bruce Banner. It is the second film to be released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe...
and Leaves of Grass
Leaves of Grass (film)
Leaves of Grass is an American black comedy/drama film written and directed by Tim Blake Nelson. It stars Edward Norton, Richard Dreyfuss, Susan Sarandon, Melanie Lynskey and Keri Russell. The film, released on September 17, 2010, is in limited release by Millennium Pictures...
Reception
The episode was viewed by 9.161 million viewers and got a Nielsen ratingNielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
of 5.4/9.
External links
- "Great Expectations" at ABC.com